Wrench



(No Model.)

Patented Apr 28,1891

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P A e Wl T NESSES @Twin/M f/Zwf UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

GEORGE L. IVEBB, OF ENON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PHILIP FOLOKEMER,

' OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 451,283-, dated April 28, 1891.

Application filed August 27, 1890. Serial No. 363,180. (No model.) I

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. W'EBB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Enon, in the countyof Olarkand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in W'renches, of which the followingis a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and 1o useful improvements in wrenches; and the object of the invention is to provide a wrench the jaws of which may be employed to readily manipulate nuts-which are so located with respect to the position and arrangement of I5 adjacent devices as to be inaccessible to the ordinary wrench.

The improvements have reference to the employment of means for readily adjusting the jaws of my wrench, which are at the end zo of and parallel to the handle portion toward and from each other and preserving at all times the parallelism of the jaws, whatever be their relative adjustment, and have reference to points of detail hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which like reference-lettersindicate corresponding parts, Figure l represents a longitudinal sectional View of my wrench, showinga part in section and a part in elevation; Fig. 2, an elevation showing one edge of thejaws; Fig. 3, alongitudinal section at right angles to the line of the section in Fig. l; Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view of the operating-sleeve and adj usting-screw, showing the connection between the two.

The letter A designates the body or barrel of my device, the same consisting of steel or 4o other suitable material, preferably tapered, as seen at B, and provided with a long open longitudinal slot C, in which are slidingly fitted .plates D. These plates are of rectangular shape, and are provided with jaws E,

whose thickness is preferably double that of each plate, whereby the jaws are flush with each other on both sides, as appears from Figs. 2 and 3. These plates are also provided with two oblique slots D', those of the 5o same plate being parallel to each other and running at substantially right angles to those of the other plate, as seen in Fig. l. Pins F are placed in the holes F in the barrel A and through the said slots D in said plates D. It will now be observed that if the plates are adj usted longitudinally they will move toward or from each other because of the oblique position -of the slots and the fixed pins.

The inner face of each plate, near the upper end, is provided with a transverse notch 6o or slot G, the said inner faces above the said notches also being cutV away somewhat, as seen at I, Figs. 2 and 3. It will be seen from these figures that the reduced faces allow of the tongue J of the block K fitting between the two plates, the shoulders]` of the tongue slidingly fitting the said transverse notches G. Thus it will be seen that as the said block K is raised or lowered it will also through its tongue and said shoulders j ele- 7o vate or lower the said plates, while the said oblique slots D around the rigid pins F will deflect the plates one to one side andy the other to the other side, as abovevset forth, which opposite deliection, it will be seen from 7 5 Fig. l,is due to the reverse inclination of the slots of one plate to that of the slots of the other plate. I will now describe the preferred means for raising and lowering the said block, and thereby opening and closing 8o or varying the grasp of the jaws. The body A is provided with a screw-threaded opening extending from the top of the open slot O up to near the top of the barrel, which receives a screw-threaded rod or adjusting-screw L. This adjusting-screw is provided at its lower end with a head L and a neck Z, which fit in a suitable recess or opening M in the block K,so that they cannot be vertically withdrawn from the block. Thus it will be seen 9o that by screwing the adjusting-screw up or down the block K and plates D are given a relative vertical adjustment.

The upper end ofthe barrel A is hollowed out, as seen at O, to provide for t-he reception of a sleeve P, which is formed with a lateral rim or flange Q, which serves the double purpose of covering the end of the barrel or handle of the wrench and ot' facilitating the rotation of the sleeve P by the thumb and iin- 1c o ger. This sleeve receives the upper end of the adjusting-screw, and is provided with a transverse bar or plate Q', slidingly fitted within the longitudinal slot P in the screw. By revolving the sleeve the plate Q will revolve the screw, while the slot will admit of the longitudinal movement ofthe screw with respect to the sleeve. In this manner the screw is manipulated to adjust the jaws. The sleeve P is also provided with a Vcircumferential groove R, into which is inserted the inner end s of the screw S, screwed into `the barrel. This screw prevents the longitudinal withdrawal of the sleeve.

While I have illustrated and described the angle of the slots D as substantially at right angles to each other, it is obvious that I may depart from this angle without departing from the invention. By making the angle between the slots of the respective plates more or less acute there will be a gain in the power on the part of the screw in its abilityjto draw the jaws together. In other words, the sharper the angle between the slots of the respective v plates the greater will be the advantage the screw will have in forciblydrawing the jaws together. Moreover, this mode ofpoperatiovn. and this construction, or their substantial equivalent, are useful in other devices, and while ment of them, of a rotatable screw mounted on the barrel and engaging with both of the plates.

2. In a wrench, the combination, with a barrel having pins or projections and plates having jaws and provided with slots oblique to the axis of the barrel and engaging with said ypins orprojections to form bearing-surfaces for said jaws, of a rotatable screw engaging with said plates and an operating-sleeve carried by the barrel and engaging with the screw to manipulate it.

3. In a wrench, the combination, with a barrel having one end'bifurcated and provided with pins or studs, and plates having jaws and provided withoblique slots fitted to said pins or studs, of an adjusting-screw fitted to a threaded opening running longitudinally in thebarrel anda manipulating-sleeve revolubly mounted within the barrel and connected to the screw by a sliding connection, whereby the screwhiay be manipulated and the plates adjusted.

4. A wrench consisting of the following instrumentalities: a barrel bifurcated yat one .end and having pins, plates having jaws and obliqueslots lfitted to said pinsab1ock slidinglyconnected with the inner ends of said plates, a screw fitted to. a threaded opening in the barrel and revolubly connected with said block, a sleeve revolublymounted within the barrel, a groove in the sleeve, and a s crew carried by thebarrel, a cross bar or plate carried by thesleeve,.and a longitudinal slot in the screw, in which said plate is fitted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. L. IVEBB. Vitnesses:

WARREN HULL, I-I. M. PLAIsTED. 

